TALKING POINTS MEMO 15JUL08

PUMAs,

I'm forwarding the handy Talking Points Doc. If anyone wishes to add or change, please let me know. I just want to get this out so that everyone can communicate from the same page.

The PUMA protest w/Michelle Obama is tomorrow at Qwest Field. Folks will meet around 11am. It won't take long. Please consider going! Contact jeanniestratton@comcast.net for details!

Joanie


Talking Points Tips:
-Seek out media opportunities
-Start dialogue with (former?)Hillary supporters
-Be well-prepared before speaking
-Avoid inflammatory or emotional terms like “Obama’s a liar.”
-Emotional reads crazy
-Have facts and references ready for any statement that you make
-Speak Slowly
-Caution: Be prepared to answer common media traps:
“Will you vote McCain?”
“Hillary and Obama are virtually the same,why vote against your interests?”
“But Hillary has asked you to support Obama!”

Talking Points:
.
1. Obama is NOT YET the nominee
2. Obama is UNELECTABLE*, ILLEGITIMATE and UNQUALIFIED
3. It is our obligation to choose the most ELECTABLE* candidate.
4. OUR GOALS ARE NOT FAR-FETCHED.
5. POLITICAL HISTORY IS FULL OF SURPRISES (cite history)
6. Obama and Hillary are NOT INTERCHANGABLE in their stance on the issues.
7. Obama has made serious REVERSALS away from Democratic core values.
8. OUR VOTE IS POWERFUL-WE HOLD THE CARDS

*Please be prepared to counter false polls that put him ahead, or true polls that show him even with McCain. Cite the fact that he LOST the significant states, and does not poll well with the demographics that decide elections. If careful, you can cite the fact that Republican attacks do not begin until after the convention.

Successful tactics for revealing Obama to under-informed Progressives:
Stay fact-based and unemotional
Provide complete list of reversals from promised Progressive positions
Emphasize that Obama will NOT care for the average American:
-Heath Care
-Privacy
-Future-Environment/Energy
-Social Security
-National Security
-Economy
Cite Hillary’s UNWAIVERING positions/credible endorsements on these issues

Accessibility to PUMA materials:
-Need for quality materials, easy to find, duplicate and distribute
-Links/Resources:
1. Excellent Source for Superdelegate Information http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Texas_2008_presidential_primary_and_superdelegates
2. Source for easy-access PUMA-related information. Media appearances, calendar, materials for circulation: Hillarysupporters.com
3. Janis’ Historically-based flyers promoting an open convention: http://www.io.com/~janis/pumaflyers.zip